Ben Stokes named in Durham squad after being dropped by England for second Test

Ben Stokes has been named in Durham’s squad for the County Championship clash with Northamptonshire with the all-rounder in contention to feature after his dropping by England.

Stokes was left out of the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand at the Kia Oval as he and Gus Atkinson are investigated over a breach of team rules after breaking curfew following the first encounter of the series at Lord’s.

No clarity has yet been offered on the 35-year-old’s future as Test captain with Joe Root appointed stand-in skipper for the Oval Test at least, but Stokes appears primed to play at Chester-le-Street from Friday.

The all-rounder has been named in a 15-man squad by Durham head coach Ryan Campbell having been training at his county this week.

“Our doors are always open for any of our Durham boys," Campbell told the BBC earlier this week. "If Ben happens to walk through it, I will definitely be waiting there with arms open wide."

"Ben is a competitor and he loves to play and he wants to play. He put his hand up and said he made a mistake.

"From what I've seen, he's in good spirits, he's back in training, working hard and the rest will take care of itself."

Atkinson is also thought to be in contention to feature for Surrey against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

He and Stokes are under twin investigations both from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator, which may charge them with bringing the game into disrepute.

A member of the ECB security staff was allegedly left requiring stitches following an incident in the early hours of last Monday morning also involving a Saracens academy player.

England head coach Brendon McCullum had suggested on Monday that he would leave it up to Stokes to consider whether he wished to play for Durham this week.

"I'm worried about Ben,” McCullum said having paused when asked if it was a positive that Stokes was willing to play. “That's it. I'll leave it at that.

"I'm in constant communication with him, which is great. I care for him immensely.

"Whatever he is working through at the moment, it will be because Ben thinks that's right for dealing with what he's feeling at the moment. So my concern is Ben.

"He's very entitled to make his own decisions around that stuff and I encourage him to keep doing stuff like that because if it gives him some joy and some satisfaction, then that's good."

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